A Senior's Warning
He vaulted onto the wall and landed lightly, slipping behind the man he'd seen for the first time today—the stranger among the pair who'd just parted ways.
The man's senses were razor-sharp, making the tail excruciatingly difficult. He whipped around at the slightest approach.
Yeon Mingyeon widened the gap.
Suddenly, the man darted into the road and vanished into a taxi, but Yeon Mingyeon wasn't worried. Instead, while pursuing, he'd noted several shops and secured their CCTV footage. Leveraging his connections within the family, he also obtained street surveillance videos.
Yeon Mingyeon sent the materials to the family head and the Cheonchal Pavilion leader.
'That guy... he looks familiar. I've seen him somewhere before.'
Tilting his head, Yeon Mingyeon walked toward the car he'd parked in the shadows behind a utility pole.
Two days before the awakening test, at noon.
People poured out from the Dungeon Martial Arts School north of Uijeongbu Comprehensive Stadium for lunch.
Jang Man-ho shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and crossed the street to his usual seolleongtang joint.
No sooner had he sat than a steaming bowl arrived.
He ladled in some red pickled radish broth and stirred—the seasoning hit just right.
As he fished out chunks of meat, someone sat across from him.
The moment Jang Man-ho recognized the man, words failed him.
"Long time no see."
Choi Min-su raised a hand and ordered a bowl of seolleongtang.
The legendary tanker's fame silenced the room instantly. Whispers rippled through, and only after about ten seconds did the lively chatter resume.
Jang Man-ho slurped his broth and shoveled in rice as if no one were there.
Finally, he spoke.
"What brings you here?"
"To see you."
Choi Min-su replied, mouth stuffed with rice and meat.
Jang Man-ho glanced at him, then focused back on his meal. He polished off the bowl in no time, paid at the counter, and stepped out.
Choi Min-su followed.
The two stood at the crosswalk, waiting for the light.
Jang Man-ho pulled out a cigarette, then pocketed it again.
"Light up."
"...No thanks."
"Still treating me like a senior? That's a relief."
Jang Man-ho pretended not to hear.
The light changed, and the crowd surged forward. Jang Man-ho strode ahead.
"Don't do it."
Choi Min-su's words carried a heavy warning, drilling clearly into his junior's ears.
Jang Man-ho halted mid-crossing, spun around, and glared at Choi Min-su.
"I used to respect you a lot."
"Not anymore?"
"Why the hell did you accept a carrier?"
Jang Man-ho demanded.
"Because he's worth it."
"You've sullied the honor of raiders."
"So you're gonna pull some dirty trick to drag down a mere carrier? And dance to the Dungeon Association's tune while you're at it?"
Choi Min-su's voice rose.
"So you were watching me."
"Caught sight of you while keeping tabs on the Association."
Choi Min-su omitted any mention of Yeon Ga's involvement.
The light changed again, cars rolled forward. But the two, locked in a stare-down near the median, snarled traffic.
Horns blared chaotically.
"You used to despise the backstabbing politics of this world, but now you're wallowing in the same cesspool without a shred of shame. I'm ashamed I ever looked up to you."
"You know who's really dumping raider honor—and their very existence—into the toilet? The Association. They want control. If you obey, they'll do anything.
This mess is the same. It's not just about him being a carrier. They're stirring this to suppress Cheonhondan, to clamp down on all raiders."
"You're no different from the Association."
Ignoring the oncoming cars, Jang Man-ho crossed the street. Tires screeched sharply.
"I don't know what you're planning, but take a good, hard look at that guy yourself. See if he's raider material—or the opposite."
"Yeah, sure."
Jang Man-ho didn't look back.
'Evaluate a carrier? What a joke.'
Choi Min-su watched Jang Man-ho's retreating figure vanish beyond the martial arts school's main gate, unable to tear his eyes away for a long while.
He knew Jang Man-ho's past well.
It wasn't his fault.
The guy could still make his mark if he returned to active duty. A shame to rot as an instructor.
Choi Min-su turned away.